Conflict minerals
Small steps forward for draft transparency rules
The European Parliament's trade committee today voted on draft EU legislation aimed at preventing conflict minerals through supply chain transparency. The vote improved the original draft law proposed by the Commission by creating binding transparency rules rather than a voluntary scheme. However, the Greens criticised the failure to ensure the rules to apply throughout the supply chain. After the vote, Green development spokesperson, Judith Sargentini said:
“While today's vote would create binding rules on transparency, these will only apply to a limited number of firms that import raw materials and not target other companies in the supply chain. The failure to provide binding transparency rules throughout the supply chain is a crucial shortcoming, which will mean conflict minerals will still be able to enter the EU market in goods and, ultimately, everyday products.
"We are clearly not there yet and we will try and convince a majority to support binding rules throughout the supply chain when the European Parliament votes on the law at its May plenary vote. This is essential to ensure Europe plays a proactive role in ending the link between minerals trade and conflict, and ensuring the extraction of minerals and resources in developing countries leads to development and improvement of the lives of their societies at large."<xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE </xml>
